VMC in Action On Stray Dog Menace and Dog Bites

The (VMC) Vijayawada Municipal Corporation will begin a survey to find the population of stray and pet dogs in the city. The survey will start on Thursday.

Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar, VMC Commissioner, who inspected the Dog Operation Unit at Ajith Singh Nagar on Wednesday, asked the officials concerned to take up the survey involving Additional Medical Officers of Health, Ward Sanitation, and Environment Secretary at Ward Secretaries, ANMs in their respective jurisdictions. The survey will be completed by the end of April.

Mr. Swapnil asked officials to ensure at least 60 stray dogs undergo animal birth control (ABC) surgery at the unit every day. He appealed to the public and dog lovers to unite with VMC to sterilize and provide dogs with Anti Rabies Vaccines (ARVs).

However, on Tuesday, VMC declared that there are about 30,000 stray dogs in the city.

Meanwhile, VMC took to social media platforms seeking the cooperation of the public in conducting the survey.

In a note addressed to the residents, Mr. Swapnil said, “We urge the residents of Vijayawada to be calm and support the cooperation by passing information of stray dogs roaming in your area.”

He said a day-wise step plan on stray dogs and a route map of the animal catcher vehicle would be shared on social media.